Proudly supported by:

About Us

Establishment of Catchment Management Authorities

The NSW Government established thirteen Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) across the State as part of broad natural resource management reforms. This new approach to natural resource management resulted from recommendations in October 2003 by the Native Vegetation Reform Implementation Group (NVRIG) chaired by the Right Honourable Ian Sinclair AC.

NVRIG was formed to identify the ways to improve the management of native vegetation in NSW. NVRIG considered the environmental, economic and social impact of current and previous land management policies and regulations. It then recommended a comprehensive suite of reforms to ensure a viable and sustainable State for current and future generations. The NSW Government welcomed the NVRIG report and used the recommendations as a basis for sweeping natural resource management reform in NSW.

The Authorities are established under the Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003, which came into force on 23 January 2004.

Click here to see a map that outlines each CMA's responsibility for particular areas of the State.

CMAs are statutory authorities, with responsible and accountable Boards that report directly to the Minister for Natural Resources. Each CMA Board consists of a Chairperson and up to six Board Members with all appointments being skill and merit based.

While CMAs are a new initiative of the NSW Government to manage natural resources they build on work previously undertaken by the Catchment Management Boards (CMBs) and Regional Vegetation Committees. They also integrate the Catchment Blueprints developed by the CMBs and endorsed by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, into their Catchment Action Plans.